Optimum profile absorbent diaper pad

ABSTRACT

A single use, rectangular area, disposable diaper pad has an optimum profile absorbent diaper pad formed of multiple ply of absorbent tissue paper sheets disposed coplanarly adjacent. A first plurality of equal width, fluid absorbent tissue paper ply are coplanarly adjacently disposed along a first absorbent pad longitudinal diaper pad margin forming a first absorbent pad subgroup. A second plurality of equal width, fluid absorbent tissue paper sheet ply are coadjacently disposed along an opposed second longitudinal diaper pad margin forming a second absorbent padsub-group. The first sub-group, and the second sub-group, have cooperative sub-group widths adapting the second sub-group to partially overlay a substantial portion of the first sub-group width. The succeeding third sub-group, fourth sub-group and the consecutive like, alternatively partially overlay the sub-group below to form an absorbent pad having a thicker fluid absorptive structure central pad disposed the length of a diaper pad. The optimum absorbent pad profile is centrally disposed in the diaper to absorb the waste products from an infant conventionally secured in the disposable diaper, with the longitudinal pad margins parallel to the infant&#39;&#39;s legs.

United States Patent .1 1

Jones, Sr.

[ Oct. 16,1973

1 1 OPTIMUM PROFILE ABSORBENT DIAPER PAD [76] Inventor: John'LeslieJones, Sr., 1070 Glen Oaks Blvd., Pasadena, Calif. 91 l05 [22] Filed:Apr. 17, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 244,982

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 63,749, Aug.14, 1970,

abandoned.

[52] US. Cl. 128/287 [51] Int. Cl. A6lf 13/16 [58] Field of Search128/284, 286, 287,

57 ABSTRACT A single use, rectangular area, disposable diaper pad has anoptimum profile absorbent diaper pad formed of multiple ply of absorbenttissue paper sheets disposed coplanarly adjacent. A first plurality ofequal width, fluid absorbent tissue paper ply are coplanarly adjacentlydisposed along a first absorbent pad longitudinal diaper pad marginforming a first absorbent pad sub-group. A second plurality of equalwidth, fluid absorbent tissue paper sheet ply are coadjacently disposedalong an opposed second longitudinal diaper pad margin forming a secondabsorbent pad-subgroup. The first sub-group, and the second sub-group,have cooperative sub-group widths adapting the second sub-group topartially overlay a substantial portion of the first sub-group width.The succeeding third sub-group, fourth sub-group and the consecutivelike,

[56] References Cited alternatively partially overlay the sub-groupbelow to UNITED STATES PATENTS form an absorbent pad having a thickerfluid absorp- 2,696,819 12/1954 Lovekin 128/284 five tructure centralpad disposed the length of a dig. 2,890,700 6/1959 Lonberg-Holm 128/284per d The optimum absorbent pad fi i 3 5/1922 m at trally disposed inthe diaper to absorb the waste prodl z igg' 128287 ucts from an infantconventionally secured in the dis- 314771433 ll/l969 Dillon..11............:.I i 2s/290 R PSab1e 1 the ongitudinal Pad marginsallel to the mfant s legs.

Primary Examiner-Charles F. Rosenbaum 7 Claims 5 Drawing Figures /0 9 rf 1 r J F 1 f .4 M 1 w w 1 1 1 1 2/ /5 /2 4 23 A9 ENTED [ICI 181975SHEET 1 [IF 2 Ema INVENTOR "i fNTEnucnslava 3.765 418 .SHEU BUY 2 I Era4-.

INVENTOR OPTIMUM PROFILE ABSORBENT DIAPER PAD CROSS REFERENCE TO ARELATED APPLICATION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is well known thatwashable, re-usable cloth diapers are worn to partially clothe a baby upto age of about two years. The cloth diapers are traditionally foldedand fitted on the babys torso to place absorbent portions of the diaperin a position to absorb waste fluids. There are difficulties inconcentrating the placement of the absorbent diaper material, includingthe reusable cloth diapers and the single use disposable diaper, in aposition where the diaper absorbent material can completely catch andretain the babys waste prod-' ucts. The optimum profile absorbent diaperpad of this invention cooperatively automatically disposes the placementof the maximum quantity of disposable absorbent pad along thelongitudinal central axis of the diaper for maximum catchment of thebabys waste products.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A single use, rectangular area, disposablediaper pad has a longitudinal centrally disposed optimum profile diaperpad, having multiple ply of fluid absorbent tissue paper sheetscoplanarly disposed. The optimum profile of the absorbent diaper pad isformed by coplanarly disposing a first plurality of fluid absorbenttissue paper sheets of equal width in an alignment forming a firstdiaper pad longitudinal margin, and forming a first pad sub-group. Asecond plurality of equal width fluid absorbent coplanar tissue papersheets are coplanarly disposed to form a second longitudinal diaper padmargin, forming a second pad subgroup. The equal width first sub-grouppad and the equal width second sub-group pad are coplanarly disposed,the second sub-group coplanarly disposed adjacent to the firstsub-group, and the equal width of the first and second sub-groups padscooperatively adapted to each partially overlap a sub stantial width ofthe other sub-group. An additional plural third and fourth sub-grouppads, and the like, can be alternatively coplanarly overlapped to form alongitudinal disposed thicker central absorbent pad in the central padlongitudinal area of the diaper, as opposed to the pair of marginal padlongitudinal areas of the diaper. Thus the optimum number of fluidabsorbent tissue sheets are disposed in the central pad area of thediaper, to absorb infant waste products are they are excreted, when thediaper is normally secured on the baby's torso with the longitudinalcentral pad axis of the diaper disposed coadjacent to the babyslongitudinal axis. 1

Included in the objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a simple manufacturing process for an optimum profileabsorbent disposable diaper pad.

Second, to provide a longitudinal centrally disposed optimum fluidabsorbent pad area in a single use, disposable baby diaper pad.

Third, to provide an optimum profile fluid absorbent diaper pad in adisposable diaper, which automatically disposes a maximum quantity offluid absorbent pad in a position on the baby's torso to absorb thebabys waste products.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent inthe following description, to be read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective plan view ofadisposable baby diaper illustrating the optimum profile absorbent pad ofthe diaper.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view through 22 of FIG. 1 illustrating indetail the overlapping construction of the plural ply sub-groups offluid absorbent multiple ply tissue paper sheets forming the optimumprofile absorbent diaper pad.

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross sectional view schematically'similar to theview of FIG. 2, illustrating further modifications of the optimumprofile absorbent diaper pad.

FIG. 4 is a schematic cross section similar to the view of FIG. 3,illustrating another modification of the 0ptimum profile absorbent pad.

FIG. 5 is a schematic cross section similar to the view of FIG. 3,illustrating a still further modification of the optimum profileabsorbent pad.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1 in detail, asingle use, disposable diaper 1 has a longitudinal pad axis 2 and a padwidth axis 3, together with a central longitudinal pad axis 13 disposedparallel to the longitudinal axis 2. The fluid absorbent pad area 4 isshown disposed-face up in FIG. 1, having the longitudinal contours 5 and6 shown disposed in the absorbent diaper pad area 4. The impermeablemembrane border seals 7 and 8 secure the coplanarly adjacent diaper padarea 4 materials of construction together. The central, thickest,optimum absorbent pad area 9 is shown longitudinally centrally disposedalong the central axis 13 with the marginal longitudinal absorbent padareas 10 and 11 oppositely disposed adjacent the central absorbent padarea 9.

Referring to the cross sectional view of FIG. 2, the disposable diaper lis shown to have the fluid absorbent pad area 4 disposed across thediaper width 3, with the thin fluid impermeable plastic membrane 12securing the pad at the border seals 7 and 8. The longitudinal padcontours 5 and 6 are shown to be formed by the open mesh, moistureporous cover sheet 14 which conventionally covers the absorbent pad 4.The first subgroup of plural fluid absorbent tissue paper sheets 15 areshown to extend from the diaper pad longitudinal margin 16 across thediaper pad width 3, the diaper pad partial width 17. The second pluralabsorbent tissue sub-group I8 is shown to extend from the opposed secondlongitudinal diaper pad margin 19 across the second diaper pad partialwidth 20. The third plural absorbent tissue sheet sub-group 21 is shownto extend from the first longitudinal diaper pad margin 16 across thefirst diaper pad partial width 17. The fourth plural absorbent tissuesheet sub-group 22 is shown to extend from the second longitudinaldiaper pad margin 19 across the second diaper pad partial width 20. Theopen weave porous cover sheet, 14, is shown to completely coplanarlycover all of the tissue paper pad subgroups as they are disposed uponthe thin film plastic membrane 12, and also to extend the longitudinalaxis length 2 of the diaper l. The border seals 7 and 8, which serve tomechanically secure the sub-groups l5, 18, 21 and 22 together with thecover sheet 14, are bonded to the pad structure underneath in aconventional, well known manner.

FIG. 3 illustrates in further schematic type detail one typical padstructure having first, second, third and fourth plural absorbent tissuesheet subgroups. The sub-groups l5, 18, 21 and 22 are shownschematically, each sub-group consists of four sheets of two ply 9-11pound absorbent tissue stock. In practice the lines 30, 31, 32, 33 canalternatively each consist of l, or 2, or 3, or 4 ply tissue sheetstock. The sub-group 15, 18, 21 and 22 can also typically represent twoto four lines each representing one to four plies of tissue sheet stock.Other numbers of plies of tissue sheet stock can be utilized in formingthe central optimum absorbent pad area 9. The ratio of the widths of thelateral absorbent pad sections and 11 to the width of the central padsection 9 can be varied over a range. Typically a central optimumabsorbent pad area 9 can represent one-half of the total diaper axiswidth 3, with the lateral absorbent pad sections 10 and 11 being equalin width. The optimumabsorbent central pad 9 can typically range fromtwo-thirds to one-fourth of the total width of the diaper pad width axis3. The illustrated construction of the absorbent diaper pad requires the'disposition of the sub-groups, typically 15, 18, 21 and 23, or thelike, in overlapping, shingled geometrical disposition to provide theoptimum thickest central absorbent pad area, or the like.

FIG. 4 illustrates a further modification of the diaper pad of thisinvention. The multiple, coplanar tissue sheet, fluid absorbent diaperpad 40 is shown in cross sectional schematic type detail to consist of afirst plural absorbent tissue paper sheet sub-group 41, which has theplural ply tissue paper sheets 42, 43, 44 and 45 extending from thefirst longitudinal diaper pad margin 46 to the second longitudinaldiaper pad margin 47, the full width 48 of the diaper pad 40. The secondplural absorbent tissue paper sheet sub-group 49 is shown symmetricallydisposed upon the first sub-group 41, centrally disposed across the lineof center 50 of the diaper pad 40. The second sub-group 49 is likewiseshown to consist of the plural two ply tissue paper sheets 51, 52, 53,54. The third plural sub-group 55 may be equivalent in plural tissuesheet structure to the first sub-group 41, and extends from the firstlongitudinal diaper pad margin 46 to the-second longitudinal diaper padmargin 47. The fourth plural sub-group 56 can be equivalent in pluraltissue paper sheet structure to the second sub-group 49, and is likewisecentrally symmetrically disposed across the center line 50 of the diaperpad 40, lying upon the sub-group 55. A fifth plural sub-group 57 ofplural absorptive tissue paper sheets can be equivalent in itsabsorptive tissue paper sheet structure to the first plural sub-group41, and can likewise extend across the full width 48 of the absorbentpad 40. As is earlier described for the modification illustrated in FIG.3, in practice the lines 42, 43, 44, 45 and lines 51, 52, 53, 54, andthe like, can each represent one, or two, or, three, or four ply tissuepaper sheet stock. The plural sub-groups 41, 49, 55, 56 and 57 canalternatively likewise typically consist of two to four lines, eachrepresenting one to'four plies of tissue sheet stock.

In a still further modification of the absorbent diaper pad of thisinvention, FIG. 5 represents a still further schematic type detail crosssectional structure of a tissue sheet absorbent pad 60, having a fulldiaper width 61 defined by the first longitudinal diaper pad margin 62and a second longitudinal diaper pad margin 63. A first plural absorbenttissue sheet sub-group 64 is shown symmetrically disposed across thecenter line 65 of the diaper width 61. The sub-group 64 is-shown to havethree lines 66, 67,68, and each line can consist of one to five plytissue sheet stock marginally aligned to form a sub-group width 69symmetrically disposed across the center line 65. The second pluralsub-group 70 of absorbent tissue sheet is shown schematically to havethe three lines 71, 72 and 73. In practice, the lines 71, 72 and 73 caneach consist of one to five ply tissue sheet stock. The schematicrepresentations of the third plural sub-group 74 and the fifth sub-group76 can be equivalent to the plural absorbent tissue sheet structure ofthe second sub-group 70. The fourth subgroup is equivalent to sub-group64. The sixth sub-group 77 can be the full equivalent of the thirdsub-group 74, in terms of the plural absorbent tissue sheet plystructure.

The'fluid absorbent multiple ply tissue papersheet pad structure of thetissue sheet absorbent pads 4, 40 and 60 can all be formed by coplanarlydepositing the multiple plies of tissue sheet stock at high speed on amoving conveyor system to form the ply structures of the severalmodifications. The teaching of this invention is directed to forming anoptimum profile fluid absorbent diaper pad having a symmetrical'centralthickest absorbent pad area, symmetrically disposed on the longitudinalcenter line of the diaper pad area. The schematic diaper padmodifications illustrated in FIGS. 1-5 can be further modified byintermixing sub-groups of plural fluid absorbent tissue pads of therequired widths and diaper pad marginal alignments, as are required. Anopen, fluid permeable cover sheet is then applied over the pad.

As is. well known in the application of baby diapers on infants, thediaper is placed on the infant in a manner disposing the longitudinalaxis 2, or the like, of the diaper in parallel with the legs of theinfant, thus placing the optimum thickest central absorbent pad 9, orthe like, in symmetrical central alignment on the infants torso toreceive its body wastes.

As to the size of the disposable diaper pad, the absorbent pad may rangein size from approximately 10 X 14 inches for the newborn baby infant to14 X 19 inches for the toddler infant. The fluid absorbent tissue sheetmay be creped or uncreped, the creped tissue sheet stock beingstretchable and forming a somewhat bulkier absorbent pad. The fluidabsorbent tissue paper sheet typical of the standard facial tissue, is asuitable paper stock. The absorbent stock may be colored suitably pinkfor girls and blue for boys, and it may, be

printed with attractive designs. An open cover sheet is.

applied over the pad.

The optimum profile absorbent pad diaper of this invention can be usedin conjunction with my integral diaper waist band fastener of mycopending application Ser. No. 867,505, and also in conjunction with mypleated diaper invention described in my copending US. patentapplication Ser. No. 867,713.

Although the optimum profile absorbent pad of this disclosure is shownsubstantially completely coextensive in area with the thin fluidimpermeable membrane, typically 12, the absorbent pad 4 area can besmaller in area than the membrance, and it can be utilized alone,without an impermeable membrane.

Obviously many modifications in the optimum profile I absorbent diaperpad can be made in the light of these teachings. It is thereforeunderstood that within the scope of the appended claims, the inventionmay be practiced otherwise than as described.

I claim:

1. In an infant diaper having a rectangular, multiple ply, coplanarmarginally aligned fluid absorbent tissue paper sheet pad area, said padarea having a pair of longitudinal diaper pad margins oppositelydisposed to each other, a central longitudinal diaper pad axis and adiaper total pad width'axis normal to said longitudinal diaper pad axis,the optimum profile fluid absorbent diaper comprising:

at least two sub-groups of marginally aligned, plural, fluid absorbenttissue paper sheet pad areas, each consecutive one of said sub-group padareas having a lone longitudinal margin serially coincident with onealternative longitudinal diaper pad margin, each one of said serialsub-group pad areas providing a substantial overlap width of theserially subsequent sub-group, providing a central optimum pad areahaving the required multiplicity of fluid absorbent tissue paper sheets;

and,

eighths of said total pad width axis.

4. In the combination set forth in claim 1, the fui'ther modificationcomprising:

' said pair of opposed longitudinal border seals are disposed on bothfaces of said longitudinal diaper pad margins.

5. In an infant diaper having a rectangular, multiple ply, coplanarmarginally aligned fluid absorbent tissue sheet pad area, said pad areahaving a pair of longitudinal diaper pad margins oppositely disposed toeach other, a central longitudinal diaper pad axis and a dia- '45 thewidth of said sub-groups being not less than five- V per total pad widthaxis normal to said longitudinal diaper pad axis, the optimum profilefluid absorbent diaper comprising:

at least two sub-groups of marginally aligned, plural, fluid absorbenttissue paper sheet pad areas, each consecutive one of said sub-group padareas having one longitudinal margin coincident with one alternativelongitudinal diaper pad margin, each one of said sub-groups providing apartial overlap width with another sub-group ranging from not less thanone-fourth to not more than two-thirds of said diaper total pad width,providing a central optimum pad area;

and,

a thin fluid impermeable membrane adjacently coextensive with one faceof said rectangular pad area, having each one of a pair of opposedlongitudinal border seals disposed on said pair of longitudinal diaperpad margins.

6. In the combination set forth in claim 5, the further modificationcomprising:

said pair of opposed longitudinal border seals are disposed on bothfaces of said longitudinal diaper pad margins.

7. In an infant diaper having a rectangular, multiple ply, coplanarmarginally aligned fluid absorbent tissue paper sheet pad area, said padarea having a pair of longitudinal diaper pad margins oppositelydisposed to each other, a central longitudinal'diaper pad axis and adiaper total pad width axis normal to said longitudinal diaper pad axis,the optimum profile fluid absorbent diaper comprising:

at least two sub-groups of marginally aligned,plural, fluid absorbenttissue paper sheet pad areas, each consecutive one of said sub-group padareas having one longitudinal margin serially coincident with onealternative longitudinal diaper pad margin, each one of said serialsub-group pad areas disposed across not more than five-sixths of and notless than five-eighths of said diaper total pad width axis, a first saidsub-group having a margin coaligned with a first said longitudinaldiaper pad margin, and a second sub-group having a margin co-alignedwith the second longitudinal diaper pad margin opposed to said firstlongitudinal margin, fonning a second sub-group overlap on a firstsubgroup, providing a central optimum pad area having the requiredmultiplicity of fluid absorbent tissue paper sheets;

and,

a thin, fiuid impermeable membrane adjacently coextensive with one faceof said rectangular pad area, having each one of a pair of opposedlongitudinal border seals secured to said pair of longitudinal diaperpad margins.-

1. In an infant diaper having a rectangular, multiple ply, coplanarmarginally aligned fluid absorbent tissue paper sheet pad area, said padarea having a pair of longitudinal diaper pad margins oppositelydisposed to each other, a central longitudinal diaper pad axis and adiaper total pad width axis normal to said longitudinal diaper pad axis,the optimum profile fluid absorbent diaper comprising: at least twosub-groups of marginally aligned, plural, fluid absorbent tissue papersheet pad areas, each consecutive one of said sub-group pad areas havingone longitudinal margin serially coincident with one alternativelongitudinal diaper pad margin, each one of said serial sub-group padareas providing a substantial overlap width of the serially subsequentsub-group, providing a central optimum pad area having the requiredmultiplicity of fluid absorbent tissue paper sheets; and, a thin, fluidimpermeable membrane adjacently coextensive with one face of saidrectangular pad area, having each one of a pair of opposed longitudinalborder seals disposed on said pair of longitudinal diaper pad margins,said seals securing said diaper pad margins.
 2. In the combination setforth in claim 1, the further modification comprising: the width of saidsub-groups being not more than five-sixths of said total pad width axis.3. In the combination set forth in claim 1, the further modificationcomprising: the width of said sub-groups being not less thanfive-eighths of said total pad width axis.
 4. In the combination setforth in claim 1, the further modification comprising: said pair ofopposed longitudinal border seals are disposed on both faces of saidlongitudinal diaper pad margins.
 5. In an infant diaper having arectangular, multiple ply, coplanar marginally aligned fluid absorbenttissue sheet pad area, said pad area having a pair of longitudinaldiaper pad margins oppositely disposed to each other, a centrallongitudinal diaper pad axis and a diaper total pad width axis normal tosaid longitudinal diaper pad axis, the optimum profile fluid absorbentdiaper comprising: at least two sub-groups of marginally aligned,plural, fluid absorbent tissue paper sheet pad areas, each consecutiveone of said sub-group pad areas having one longitudinal margincoincident with one alternative longitudinal diaper pad margin, each oneof said sub-groups providing a partial overlap width with anothersub-group ranging from not less than one-fourth to not more thantwo-thirds of said diaper total pad width, providing a central optimumpad area; and, a thin fluid impermeable membrane adjacently coextensivewith one face of said rectangular pad area, having each one of a pair ofopposed longitudinal border seals disposed on said pair of longitudinaldiaper pad margins.
 6. In the combination set forth in claim 5, thefurther modification comprising: said pair of opposed longitudinalborder seals are disposed on both faces of said longitudinal diaper padmargins.
 7. In an infant diaper having a rectangular, multiple ply,coplanar marginally aligned fluid absorbent tissue paper sheet pad area,said pad area having a pair of longitudinal diaper pad marginsoppositely disposed to each other, a central longitudinal diaper padaxis and a diaper total pad width axis normal to said longitudinaldiaper pad axis, the optimum profile fluid absorbent diaper comprising:at least two sub-groups of marginally aligned,plural, fluid absorbenttissue paper sheet pad areas, each consecutive one of said sub-group padareas having one longitudinal margin serially coincident with onealternative longitudinal diaper pad margin, each one of said serialsub-group pad areas disposed across not more than five-sixths of and notless than five-eighths of said diaper total pad width axis, a first saidsub-group having a margin co-aligned with a first said longitudinaldiaper pad margin, anD a second sub-group having a margin co-alignedwith the second longitudinal diaper pad margin opposed to said firstlongitudinal margin, forming a second sub-group overlap on a firstsubgroup, providing a central optimum pad area having the requiredmultiplicity of fluid absorbent tissue paper sheets; and, a thin, fluidimpermeable membrane adjacently coextensive with one face of saidrectangular pad area, having each one of a pair of opposed longitudinalborder seals secured to said pair of longitudinal diaper pad margins.